Coaxial cable connector

ABSTRACT

A coaxial cable connector having a conductive sleeve for accepting the terminal ends of the center conductor of the cable and means for securing the conductors within the sleeve. A wire conductor is clamped between the terminal ends of the outer sheath of the cable. The sleeve and the wire conductor are encased in a dielectric material which maintains them in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship.

Unite States Patent [191 Blake Dec. 25, 1973 COAXllAL CABLE CONNECTOR [76] Inventor: William L. Blake, Elkins Ave., PO.

Box 86, Reedsville, W. Va. 26542 [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 327,854

[52] US. Cl. 339/272 A, 174/78, 174/88 C [51] Int. Cl.. H02g 15/08 [58] Field 05 Search 174/88 C, 75 C, 88 R, 174/94 S, 87, 78; 339/176 R, 272 R, 272 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,117,357 1/1964 Carver l74/88 C X 3,564,117 2/1971 Scheffler et al U 174/88 C X Primary ExaminerDarrell L. Clay Attorney-John E. Benoit 57 I ABSTRACT A coaxial cable connector having a conductive sleeve for accepting the terminal ends of the center conductor of the cable and means for securing the conductors within the sleeve. A wire conductor is clamped between the terminal ends of the outer sheath of the cable. The sleeve and the wire conductor are encased in a dielectric material which maintains them in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR This invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more specifically to a connector for use with a coaxial cable.

Coaxial cable connectors in use at the present time are often complicated and require the use of special tools to accomplish the desired connection. Furthermore, most of the known connectors are designed for a permanent connecting operation.

Because of the wide use of coaxial cable connectors, it has become desirable to provide a simple type of device which may be used with various sizes of coaxial cables and which is easily installed without special tools and is removeable so as to be available for reuse.

Accordingly, an objectof the present invention is to provide a universal type coaxial cable connector which is useable with a large number of cables of different sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coaxial cable connector which is easily installed without special tools and which may be reused indefinitely.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a connector having easy access so as to maintain a test point for checking voltages and signals.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a weather-proofing cover device which is easily installed and which may be easily removed for either checking of the connection or removal thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified coaxial cable connector which is economical to manufacture and which requires no special equipment orskill to install.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the connector of the present invention as installed, together with the weather-proofing cover;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially in section, showing the details of the connector of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the details of the clamp used with the outer sheathing of the cable.

Generally speaking, the present invention provides a device for connecting the inner conductors and the outer conductive sheath of two coaxial cables. The device comprises a conductive sleeve having an inner dimension which is sufficient to accept the inner conductor of the cable, and a wire conductor substantially parallel to the sleeve and extending beyond either end thereof. A dielectric material encases the sleeve and conductor and maintains the sleeve and the conductor in a fixed spaced relationship. Means are provided in the sleeve for securing the inner conductor within the tube and means are also provided for removably clamping the terminal ends of the wire conductor to the outer conductor sheathing of the coaxial cables being connected.

Turning now to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of the device connected between a pair of coaxial cables including a female rubber sleeve which mates with a male sleeve so as to form a weather proof covering over the interior connector. The sleeves are of a flexible material which provides a tight fit about the cable while allowing movement of the sleeves under pressure to permit mating.

Coaxial cables 15 and 17 include, respectively, conductive sheaths 20 and 19 which are separated from the inner conductors by a standard type of dielectric material indicated at 23 and 24.

As may be seen in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector includes a conductive tubing 25 of a material such as copper which is surrounded by a dielectric material 27. The dielectric material has an integral flange 29 which extends upwardly and terminates in an elongated dielectric section 31. A conductive wire 33 is embedded within the dielectric section 31 and extends therethrough and beyond either end of the conductive sleeve 25.

With the arrangement as shown in FIG. 2 it can be seen that the conductive wire 33 is maintained in a spaced substantially parallel relationship with the conductive sleeve 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, the two inner conductors 21 and 22 of the coaxial cables which are to be connected are inserted within the conductive sleeve 25. In order that the connector may be used with various sizes of coaxial cables, the inner circumference of sleeve 25 is made of a sufficient dimension so as to accept various sizes of inner conductors. When the conductor is inserted within the sleeve, it'must be secured firmly therein. Accordingly, two set screws 35 and 37 are provided within the casing of the sleeve by being threadably inserted through the wall thereof. After the inner conductors .are inserted into the sleeve, the set screws are tightened and that particular connection is completed.

The remaining connection relates to the outer conductive sheathing of the two coaxial cables. The conductive wire 33 is of a length sufficient to pass outwardly and over the conductive sheathing 19 and 20. The wire is sufficiently flexible so that it may be bent downwardly so as to place it into a position where it may be clamped to the sheathing.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred type of clamp to be used with the connector of the present invention. It is a standard device which is commercially available. After the wire is inserted adjacent the sheathing the screw 42 is turned within housing 43. The band 40 of the clamp has a series of angled slots which mate with the screw thread of the screw 42 so as to tighten the band 40 against the outer sheathing and establish an electrical bond between the wire 33 and the sheathing. Additionally, it is desirable to make the wire 33 of a sufficient length so as to provide a bite 47 with a resulting second pass of the wire beneath the band 40, thus assuring an even greater electrical contact.

After the contact is made, the insulating sleeves 11 and 13 are moved along the coaxial cable until they mate as shown in FIG. 1.

It will be seen that not only is the connector of the present invention easily installed, but it is also easily re moved. Since it is designed to accept cables of various sizes, it may be reused not only for cables of the same size, but also for cables of a different size.

The protective sleeves are easily removable for inspection, testing and/or removal of the connector without the need for any specific special tools other than a screwdriver or the like.

The above description is illustrative only since various geometrical configurations of the connector could be changed without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

sleeve and said wire conductor in a spaced relationship, and

means in said sleeve for removably securing said inner conductors within said sleeve.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means in said sleeve for removably securing said inner conductors within said sleeve comprises;

at least one set screw for eachconductor, said screws threadably passing through the wall of said sleeve. 

1. A device for connecting the inner conductors and outer conductive sheath of two coaxial cables comprising; a conductive sleeve having an inner dimension sufficient to accept said inner conductors, a wire conductor disposed substantially parallel to said sleeve and extending beyond either end thereof for connection to said outer sheaths, dielectric material encasing said sleeve and said wire conductor, said dielectric material maintaining said sleeve and said wire conductor in a spaced Relationship, and means in said sleeve for removably securing said inner conductors within said sleeve.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means in said sleeve for removably securing said inner conductors within said sleeve comprises; at least one set screw for each conductor, said screws threadably passing through the wall of said sleeve. 